Podcast
Gluten Free Engineer - Making Gluten Free Easy
Hosted by Carrie Saunders · EN
Feeling lost, overwhelmed, or frustrated on your gluten-free journey? I felt that way and you’ve come to the right place to feel supported, understood and to find gluten free to be easier.
Hi, I’m Carrie Saunders, host of The Gluten Free Engineer. As someone with celiac disease (or coeliac, depending on where you’re from!), I understand the confusion and overwhelm that come with it. With a husband and three kids also navigating this lifestyle, I’ve learned the hard way how to make gluten-free living easier, safer, and more enjoyable.
Whether you’re new to gluten-free living or a seasoned foodie looking for fresh ideas, this podcast is for you. Each week, we’ll dive into topics like:
- Avoiding cross-contamination and staying safe
- Mouthwatering recipes and recipe conversion tips
- Honest gluten-free product reviews
- Travel hacks and dining-out strategies
- Insights from expert guest speakers
Join me every week as we tackle the challenges of celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and gluten-free living head-on—making it simpler, more delicious, and even fun! Don’t miss an episode—subscribe now and start thriving on your gluten-free journey.
85episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Simple Formula I Use for Gluten-Free Meals When I'm Too Tired to Cook
4d ago00:13:37Tap to summarizeText Carrie!Have you ever had one of those days where work has completely drained your brain... You're hungry. You still need to eat gluten-free. But cooking an elaborate meal is the last thing you want to do? I think we've all been there. The good news is that eating gluten-free doesn't have to mean spending hours in the kitchen. Today I'm sharing my favorite low-energy meals, the staples I always keep on hand, and the simple formula I use to put together quick gluten-free dinners without sacrificing nutrition. If you've ever stood in front of your refrigerator hoping dinner would magically appear, this episode is for you. Save money, and no more guessing for dinner! Use code GFE to get 20% off annual membership at thedinnerdaily.com. Plan meals for less than $4/month and save money at the grocery store!Support the show
Transcribe →Think Gluten Only Affects Your Stomach? Think Again.
2w ago00:19:03Tap to summarizeText Carrie!When most people think about celiac disease, they picture digestive problems like stomach aches, diarrhea, and bloating. While those are common symptoms, they are far from the whole story. Many people with celiac disease have few—or even no—digestive symptoms at all. Instead, they may struggle with brain fog, anxiety, migraines, joint pain, infertility, chronic fatigue, skin rashes, or depression, never realizing gluten could be the underlying cause. In this episode, we're exploring these surprising symptoms of celiac disease and gluten intolerance, why they happen, and why they so often lead to years of missed or delayed diagnoses. Understanding that celiac disease can affect far more than just the digestive system is an important step toward recognizing the condition and getting the right diagnosis and treatment. Save money, and no more guessing for dinner! Use code GFE to get 20% off annual membership at thedinnerdaily.com. Plan meals for less than $4/month and save money at the grocery store!Support the show
Transcribe →What "May Contain Gluten" Really Means (And What I Do)
3w ago00:15:18Tap to summarizeText Carrie!You're standing in the grocery store, you've checked the ingredients, and everything looks safe—until you spot the words, "May contain wheat," "May contain traces of wheat," or "Manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat." Suddenly, what seemed like an easy decision becomes much more complicated. Should you buy it or put it back? Does the product actually contain gluten, or is the company simply using the label as a legal precaution? In this episode, we're breaking down what these precautionary allergen statements really mean, what they don't mean, and how I personally decide whether a product makes it into my shopping cart. By the end, you'll have a practical framework to help you make confident decisions instead of feeling overwhelmed every time you see one of these warnings. Save money, and no more guessing for dinner! Use code GFE to get 20% off annual membership at thedinnerdaily.com. Plan meals for less than $4/month and save money at the grocery store!Support the show
Transcribe →School, Daycare, and 504 Plans: Helping Gluten-Free Kids Stay Safe
4w ago00:18:44Tap to summarizeText Carrie!Sending your child to school after a celiac diagnosis can feel absolutely terrifying. Suddenly, you're worried about everything: who's watching what they eat, whether the teacher understands cross-contamination, what happens during classroom snacks, birthday parties, art projects, and field trips. If your child is older, you may also wonder if they'll actually speak up and advocate for themselves. If you've ever laid awake running through these scenarios, this episode is for you. We're diving into school, daycare, and 504 plans for gluten-free kids, discussing which protections really make a difference, how our approach evolved as our children grew older, and practical ways to make school feel safer without becoming completely overwhelmed. Plus, I'll share one simple accommodation that made a huge difference for our family—something many parents don't realize they can request. Save money, and no more guessing for dinner! Use code GFE to get 20% off annual membership at thedinnerdaily.com. Plan meals for less than $4/month and save money at the grocery store!Support the show
Transcribe →Why Some People Feel Better Faster Than Others After Going Gluten-Free
Jul 1600:17:40Tap to summarizeText Carrie!Have you ever wondered why one person goes gluten-free and feels amazing within a few weeks while someone else is still struggling months later? Maybe you've heard stories like: "I gave up gluten and all my symptoms disappeared!" And meanwhile you're thinking: "That's great... but why am I still dealing with fatigue, digestive issues, or brain fog?" If you've ever compared your healing journey to someone else's, this episode is for you. Today we're talking about why healing isn't one-size-fits-all, what factors influence how quickly people improve, and why comparing your progress to someone else's often creates more frustration than clarity. Save money, and no more guessing for dinner! Use code GFE to get 20% off annual membership at thedinnerdaily.com. Plan meals for less than $4/month and save money at the grocery store!Support the show
Transcribe →Why Going Gluten-Free Isn't Always Enough with Kelly Hale
Jul 900:47:13Tap to summarizeText Carrie!Have you ever wondered why, even after going gluten-free, you still don't feel quite as good as you expected? Maybe your digestion isn't where you'd hoped it would be. Maybe stress seems to make everything worse. Or maybe you're wondering if there's another piece of the healing puzzle that no one has talked to you about yet. In today's episode of The Gluten-Free Engineer, we're exploring the connection between the nervous system, digestion, and gut health with special guest Kelly Hale. Kelly is a nervous system regulation practitioner, occupational therapist, and founder of Gutsy Brain Movement. Through her own experience with celiac disease and fertility challenges, she discovered that healing often involves more than just removing gluten. In our conversation, we discuss how stress impacts digestion, why nervous system regulation matters, and some simple ways to better support your body as you continue your healing journey. Connect with Kelly HaleKelly is a nervous system regulation practitioner, occupational therapist, and founder of Gutsy Brain Movement. Through her own journey with celiac disease and fertility challenges, she discovered that healing often involves more than just eliminating gluten. While a gluten-free diet is essential for managing celiac disease and gluten intolerance, Kelly teaches that supporting the nervous system through movement and regulation techniques may also play an important role in digestion, stress resilience, and overall well-being. Facebook | Instagram | Website Check out Kelly's free Facebook Group to learn simple, quick tools to support the health of your Brain+Body+Biome.Save money, and no more guessing for dinner! Use code GFE to get 20% off annual membership at thedinnerdaily.com. Plan meals for less than $4/month and save money at the grocery store!Support the show
Transcribe →Why Confidence With Food Takes Time when you are Gluten Free
Jul 200:10:15Tap to summarizeText Carrie!Have you ever looked at someone who's been gluten-free for years and thought, "I wish I were that confident?" They seem to know exactly what questions to ask at restaurants, confidently decline unsafe food, and bring their own meals without a second thought. Meanwhile, you're standing in the grocery store reading the same label three times, wondering if you're overlooking something important. If that's you, I want you to know that confidence with food doesn't happen overnight. It's something that develops over time through experience—one grocery trip, one restaurant meal, one awkward conversation, and sometimes one mistake at a time. In today's episode, I'm sharing why confidence with food takes time, what helped me build it, and why where you are right now is completely normal. Save money, and no more guessing for dinner! Use code GFE to get 20% off annual membership at thedinnerdaily.com. Plan meals for less than $4/month and save money at the grocery store!Support the show
Transcribe →Things I Stopped Doing After Going Gluten-Free
Jun 2500:16:47Tap to summarizeText Carrie!When most people think about going gluten-free, they focus on everything they have to give up—bread, pizza, convenience, and even favorite restaurants. But something unexpected happened after I went gluten-free: I actually started letting go of a lot of things that were making my life harder. I stopped doing things I thought I needed to do, things I felt obligated to do, and things that were creating stress, anxiety, and sometimes even making me sick. In this episode, I'm sharing the things I stopped doing after going gluten-free and why my life actually became easier because of it. You may discover that some of these are things you're still holding onto, too. Save money, and no more guessing for dinner! Use code GFE to get 20% off annual membership at thedinnerdaily.com. Plan meals for less than $4/month and save money at the grocery store!Support the show
Transcribe →How to Explain Celiac/Gluten Intolerance to People Who Mean Well but Still Don't Get It
Jun 1800:13:31Tap to summarizeText Carrie!Have you ever had someone try really hard to accommodate your celiac disease and somehow still completely miss the mark? Maybe they bought gluten-free bread but used the same knife that touched regular bread. Maybe they proudly served a "gluten-free" dish without realizing the soy sauce contained wheat. Or perhaps they looked genuinely confused when you explained that simply removing the croutons doesn't make a salad safe. These situations can be incredibly frustrating—not because people don't care, but often because they do care and simply don't understand the details that matter. In this episode, I'll share how I explain celiac disease to well-meaning friends, family members, and hosts in a way that helps them understand the most important risks without overwhelming them. By the end, you'll have a few simple, practical ways to talk about celiac disease without turning every conversation into a medical lecture. Save money, and no more guessing for dinner! Use code GFE to get 20% off annual membership at thedinnerdaily.com. Plan meals for less than $4/month and save money at the grocery store!Support the show
Transcribe →How to Survive Summer BBQs and Cookouts Gluten-Free
Jun 1100:14:43Tap to summarizeText Carrie!Summer cookouts are supposed to be fun: sunshine, burgers, family, and friends. But if you’re gluten-free, they can get stressful fast. Suddenly you’re wondering whether the burger buns touched the grill, if the tongs are safe, whether someone stuck gluten-covered hands in the chip bag, or if that marinade is actually gluten-free. And if you’ve ever gotten sick from one of these situations, you know exactly why it matters. In this episode, we’re talking about how to survive summer BBQs and cookouts gluten-free, what I personally watch for, what we do when we don’t fully trust the setup, and how to enjoy the fun without spending the whole day stressed about food. By the end, you’ll have a practical game plan so you can relax and enjoy the cookout with confidence. Save money, and no more guessing for dinner! Use code GFE to get 20% off annual membership at thedinnerdaily.com. Plan meals for less than $4/month and save money at the grocery store!Support the show
Transcribe →